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10.10 If anybody thought Federer's best days were behind him then they should probably revise that. Some fierce serving, strong ground shots and superb aggressive play from the net in his 1,001st career win will fill the Swiss with confidence and, no doubt, fill his next opponent with fear. Many thanks for joining us today.

10.01 Federer* 6-4, 6-2, 7-5 Lu Game, set and match to Federer who beats Lu 6-4, 6-2, 7-5. Brilliant stuff from Federer who drops just a single point in the final game of his campaign opener.

9.58 Federer 6-4, 6-2, 6-5 Lu* Like a puppeteer Federer's just playing with Lu, Not for the first time Federer dragging him all across the court with some clever play. Marvellous stuff. Federer wins the game without conceding a point and he will next serve for the match.

9.56 Federer* 6-4, 6-2, 5-5 Lu As predicted Federer makes easy work of Lu. Some blistering serves and assured ground play sees the Swiss win the game to love in a little over a minute.

9.54 Federer 6-4, 6-2, 4-5 Lu* The world No 47 has left it late, but he just delivered his fist ace of the game en route to winning the game. Federer must win his next game to stay in the set – I expect he'll do that quite easily. probably in about 90 seconds.

9.51 Federer* 6-4, 6-2, 4-4 Lu New balls, same old story. Once again after facing a test off Lu's serve, Federer bounces back to thunder his way to another game dropping just one point.

9.48 Federer 6-4, 6-2, 3-4 Lu* Lu comes out of the traps all guns blazing before Federer pegs him back. For, I think, the third time in the match Federer is forced into playing a wayward shot off his backfoot to allow Lu back in the game. A short rally sees Federer win the next point to take it to deuce. Another decent rally ends up with Federer taking advantage – Lu, it seems, always runs out of ideas whenever a rally plays out. After clawing his way back into the game and taking advantage, Lu blasts the ball into the net. Lu, though, regains his composure before winning the game.

9.40 Federer* 6-4, 6-2, 3-3 Lu After being pushed all the way in the last game, Federer makes short work of Lu as he wins another game to love. Once again the Swiss jogs off court to collect a new racket for the new balls.

9.37 Federer 6-4, 6-2, 2-3 Lu* A few technical issues here have meant I've missed the last couple of games. The set is still going to serve and Lu, it would appear, played a couple of decent shots to seal the last game – according to Twitter.

9.27 Federer 6-4, 6-2, 1-2 Lu* Lu is continuing to entertain the crowd and manages to win his second game of the third set with relative ease.

9.24 Federer* 6-4, 6-2, 1-1 Lu A mini-wobble from Federer sees Lu take the Swiss to break point for the second time in the match. A cruel Hawk-Eye review allows Federer to come back into the game – much to the delight of the crowd who are getting behind the underdog. After getting back into the game, Federer takes advantage before delivering a third double fault. the swiss, though, keeps his cool and serves out for the game. Not seen the statistics, but reckon that was the longest game of the match so far.

9.16 Federer 6-4, 6-2, 0-1 Lu* Lu has never come from two sets down to win a match and today's probably not the day that he's going to end that. However, there's some lovely tennis being played here by both players – the peach of the game being from Federer who had been forced out wide before playing a killer backhand around the outside of the net. Too little, too late for Federer though who lost the game having earned just one point. A rarity today.

9.12 Federer* 6-4, 6-2 Lu A few deep intakes of breath from the crowd after Federer loses the opening two points. After claiming the third point, Federer delivers his first double fault to hand Lu game point. Following the brief scare, the Swiss claws his way back into the game before winning the second set after a failed review from Lu.

9.07 Federer 6-4, 5-2 Lu* The crowd at the Rod Laver Arena are starting to get behind Lu who is giving Federer a decent test. The Swiss, though, is just too wily for for Lu – he's looking strong at the net and mobile at the back of the court and has just managed a double break.

9.04 Federer* 6-4, 4-2 Lu Another love game from Federer who immediately runs over to his chair to, for the second time today, grab a new racket to receive the new balls off Lu.

8.59 Federer 6-4, 3-2 Lu* After earning three break points, Federer goes long to offer Lu a way back in. The Tapei player took full advantage by winning the next point with a thundering forehand down the line before, well you know the rest ... Federer won the game after Lu blasted the ball into the net for the first break of the second set.

8.55 Federer* 6-4, 2-2 Lu After hitting a sixth ace in the second point of the game, Lu plays a magnificent lob to get back into the game. Two forehand slices, though, saw the Swiss outwit his rival out on court to hold his serve and make it 2-2.

If Federer can keep up this then his chances of an 18th grand slam title are probably as bright as his new kicks ...

8.53 Federer 6-4, 1-2 Lu* Another decent rally concludes the game, though this time it is Lu who came out on top after Federer's ground stroke carries a little too much weight. Despite the obvious gulf between the players here, Lu is putting in a decent shift.

8.49 Federer* 6-4, 1-1 Lu The Swiss drops two points, before winning his first serve game of the second set off a backhand return. Mirka, who's in the crowd in Melbourne, will be happy with that.

8.45 Federer 6-4, 0-1 Lu* After playing a couple of blistering serves – including one at 193k/h – Lu wins the opening game of the second set following a little bit of good fortune with a net cord off a cross-court backhand.

8.41 Federer 5*-4 Lu After losing just two points on his serve, Federer opens the 10th game with a blistering ace. The second point saw the longest rally of the game that saw Lu test Federer whose athleticism and movement was a joy to watch, eventually the world No 47 ran out of ideas. inevitably the Swiss won the next two points to seal the opening set.

8.38 Federer 5-4 Lu* Federer takes a new racket out of the bag before receiving from Lu who holds.

8.35 Federer 5*-3 Lu Game Federer who steamrollers Lu, once again, to love.

8.30 Federer 4-3 Lu* It's on! Does the fightback start here? Probably not, but Lu managed to not only hold his serve, but he did it without losing a point.

8.30 Federer 4*-2 Lu Too, too easy for Federer who wins the final point with a 201k/h serve.

8.26 Federer 3-2 Lu* The opening break of the match didn't take too long as Federer wins his eighth straight point. Aftre playing a couple of wayward shots in the third game, Federer is starting to find his range and is looking sharp.

8.24 Federer 2*-2 Lu No problems there for Federer who wins the game to love in just over a minute. The Rod Laver Arena started to fill up during the break.

8.20 Federer 1-2 Lu* (* denotes server) Lu manages to hold on to win the third game. The Tapei player appeared nervy there as Federer tested his resolve, however with Federer skying a couple of backhand returns off the serve, the world No 47 was able to go into the opening break with the opening set going to serve.

8.15 Federer 1-1 Lu After winning his opening game against the out-and-out favourite, Lu lost the second game against Federer.

8.10 The pair have been out on the court knocking up Federer, incidentally, is dressed in fluorescent yellow, and won the toss before electing to receive.

8.00 Morning everybody and welcome to our first live rolling blog from this year's Australian Open as Roger Federer, the world No 2, opens his campaign against world No 47 Yen-Hsun Lu at the Rod Laver Arena.

After claiming a 1,000th professional win of his career last week, the 33-year-old is feeling confident ahead of today's match, with the Swiss saying: "I think I’ve serving more consistent and stronger than I ever have. I definitely think the [larger] racquet has helped. My concentration I do believe is there – better than it’s ever been.”

Whether or not Lu is feeling the same cannot be confirmed. The 31-year-old Lu of Chinese Taipei has progressed beyond the third round of a grand slam just once – at Wimbledon in 2010 when he beat Andy Roddick in a five-set thriller en route to the quarter-finals.

I'm no betting man, but I'm thinking the Swiss is going to roll Lu over in three straight-sets here today.